# NTSB GAA19CA015: Titan Titan Tornado 912, N912R, Corry, PA, October 7, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 7, 2018, 18:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Corry, PA - Coordinates: 41.907501, -79.641113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9075&lon=-79.6411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA015 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Deaton Ronald E TITAN TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0561495), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Deaton Ronald E TITAN TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0561495), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Deaton Ronald E TITAN TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0561495), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Deaton Ronald E TITAN TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0561495), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Deaton Ronald E TITAN TORNADO 912, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0561495), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed with 14 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane. He added that he diverted to an airport 15 miles away from the destination airport due to ground fog, and while en route, about 2 hours 25 minutes after departure, the engine "died from lack of gas." Subsequently, he landed the airplane in a field. The pilot further reported that he estimated that the fuel tank had "maybe an 1/8 cup" and that a "tablespoon may be more accurate." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left aileron, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he departed with 14 gallons of fuel. He added that he diverted to an airport 15 miles away from the destination airport due to ground fog and while enroute, about 2 hours and 25 minutes since departure the airplane engine "died from lack of gas". Subsequently, he landed off airport in a field. The pilot further reported that he estimated the fuel tank had "maybe an 1/8 cup", and that a "tablespoon may be more accurate". The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left aileron, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N912R), registered now, S/N D00912SOHK0382 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Titan TITAN TORNADO 912 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Deaton Ronald E TITAN TORNADO 912](https://openairdocs.org/model/deaton-ronald-e-titan-tornado-912) (registry code 0561495) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: D00912SOHK0382 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 360.3 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, December 2, 2017 - Departed: 8N1, Bethel, PA - Destination: D88, Sherman, NY - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 97.6 total, 62 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: KJHW, 23 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20181007019609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181007019609A), Oct 7, 2018: Deaton Ronald E TITAN TORNADO II, Corry, PA, Substantial damage. On 10-05-18 [privacy data omitted] and his passenger [privacy data omitted] flew N912R from D88 to 8N1, a 184NM flight. Then [privacy data omitted] flew alone… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98456. 10.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 10.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 375 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot Additional Information (item 4, .PDF, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Additional%20Information-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.